blah.

- still looking for "it"
- bored to death
- got the package from Mama :)
- nothing really exciting to share

crazy or not?!

Gee it’s been a while since my last post! To tell you honestly I can’t seem to find the enthusiasm to blog these days. I’m beginning to get these negative feelings that you don’t even want to know.

Well, it’s been almost 2 months since that very frustrating day. I consistently do my homework but I guess I didn’t find any luck yet. Or was I even trying harder?! I think so! Well I’ve passed on quite a few applications and I’ve already gone to 2 interviews so far. It’s either “no reply” or “no follow-up”. *Sigh*

if only...

I just came from a “workshop” this AM. It wasn’t bad. I mean it didn’t take that long and the speaker was great! In fact, she was very encouraging that you yourself will have a positive outlook like... "you’re not alone" sort of thing you know. But then again, I can’t help not to feel sad. I just thought that if only “she” hadn’t been like how she was to me, I wouldn’t be in this situation.

unexpected things happen...

I only had one question! I just needed to know WHY? But I wasn’t given any reason so I was left in awe. I guess I just have to leave it at that even though I know I gave my all. I know God has better plans for me… for us. And that… this too shall pass!

Adoy's big day!

Today is my brother Adoy’s big day! I think it’ll be over soon or maybe it has ended already. Anyway, Papa sent me a text message while on our way to work… around 745 A.M. (well actually we were to stop by at a store to buy a phone card). He said “call at this number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _”. It was Mama who answered my call and she said to wait a little bit as they’re finishing up the bouquet tossing. We can’t really understand each other maybe due to the loud background. Suddenly, I heard someone said “we have a message directly from New York City” and the conversation went as follows:

Emcee : Hello!
Faye : Hi!
Emcee : Hello! Ate Faye… We’re here live from the Philippines. Everyone can hear you. What’s your message for Masson and Lanie? (pause) Hello!
Faye : (choking up) Hold on! I’m trying to contain myself! (My voice already cracking up) Now I’m crying! (Ehem!) I thought I’ll be okay?! But I wasn’t really able to sleep last night. Anyway, Adoy… Lanie… I feel really bad not being there. I’m sorry I am not there to celebrate this special day of yours. You know the reason why and there’s really nothing I could do about it. Congratulations and best wishes to both of you! They say marriage make two people as one but remember that you are still 2 different individuals. Love each other… accept each other’s differences… there will be problems along the way but I’m sure you’ll be alright… especially with the support of the family. (pause) I think that’s it!
Emcee : Ok. Thanks Ate Faye! Oh by the way, I’m a medium on a t-shirt.
Faye : O…..K….?! :)

(There were some parts of the conversation in Filipino and maybe some other parts that I can’t exactly remember anymore.)

Then I was off the air and was just talking to Adoy. I said “how’s everything?” He said “good! It’s like a variety show. Hehehe” He told me he’ll just send me a copy of the video. I didn’t anymore keep him long and hang up soon.

Oh what an awful scene I made! Haha! I was so ashamed and all the more I felt bad when I hang up the phone. Grrr! I really thought I am ok but last night… knowing the fact that they’re all busy… everybody’s there but me… I somehow started feeling so upset to the fact that I wasn’t there. Well what can I do…

on being "impulsive"

I find it really difficult to accept the “blame” when I know I’m not the person primarily responsible for it. I hope people would learn how to think first before saying anything. Being impulsive, more often than not, can be offensive!

nice now, nasty later

I just don’t understand why some people are nice when they need something from you and yet the annoyance in their voice is very obvious when it’s the other way around…

Roosevelt Field Mall

Nothing really special or interesting happened over the weekend. I practiced driving as usual. I must admit I still get a little panicky whenever I encounter aggressive drivers. IFC keeps on reminding me to be alert at all times. You can never tell you know.

Anyway, we also went to Roosevelt Field Mall… didn’t buy anything though; Walmart… got some groceries and supplies; and we ate at this “restaurant” that we were so disappointed with the quality of the food and service as well. IFC wants to go to this restaurant ever since but we don’t have any branch near us. We didn’t have second thoughts upon seeing the restaurant near the mall. But I don’t think we’re going back there again ever.

sequel...

We went back to the “dealer” on 5/31 to do some cancellations but the Business Manager was in a meeting. It was “supposedly” rescheduled on 6/2. However, we were surprised to know that she was out on vacation for the whole week. And so we waited till the next Monday which was yesterday. Guess what? She was right there… a few feet away from us… but she didn’t entertain us at all. She asked the salesman (SM) to tell us to call a certain number (which they can’t even provide) for the cancellation. I then showed the contract to the SM where it specifically stated that the cancellation has to be done through the dealer. The SM had to go back to her again for instructions. To cut it short… he took the paperwork, signed my copy and we left.

I am just so pissed off with how this whole thing turned out. I feel like she wouldn’t entertain us anymore because the sale is already done! Where is the so-called customer service then?!

Now we’re really thinking of filing a complaint to the DCA!

never-ending hassles...

Having bought this car seems like “it was never meant to be” from the start. I hate to think of it as some sort of “bad luck” but the troubles are just never-ending.

Being a 1st time buyer, not to mention that we didn’t have an ample time to review all the documents while in their premises, the Business Manager’s (BM) approach looked like it was mandatory for us to get all the extended warranty/add-ons for the car. I must admit that it was written in one of the papers that these are optional. I still believe though that it is the BM’s responsibility to specify that which she didn’t. And while it’s not going to change the monthly mortgaged amount, it would have still been better if these add-ons were applied to the full amount owed. The problem is that the salesman picked up the car the next day after we bought it to install some things and finish the waxing. IFC and I (on separate occasions), told him not to as we wanted to cancel everything. He clearly said it has nothing to do with it. It turned out that $6885 worth of optional items can no longer be cancelled as they are already set up in the car. The only consolation is that we can put that amount on top of the resale value in case we sell or trade it in. We will cancel the rest amounting to $4295 tonight. Bottom line, it’s like we bought 2 cars.

Then on Saturday, we parked the car at a Burger King so buy IFC’s house slippers at a store across the street. It didn’t even take us 10 minutes and IFC saw the car being towed. I wouldn’t believe him at 1st but he ran and knocked on the driver’s window. He said we’re illegally parked as he saw us walked the other direction. We were asked to pay $150… in cash. He showed no mercy at all and when I asked for a copy of the receipt, he said… “Then, give me your driver’s license. I will put tax on it so you have to give me $13 more.” Again, being our 1st time, we just gave in to it to end the conversation.

Call us stupid but I still feel that it’s simply like taking advantage of other people’s vulnerability. This whole ordeal became a big lesson for us… that we have to be more wary next time.

I still can’t get over it though! Arrgghh!!!

what a "hanap-buhay" life!

It’s been almost a week since my last post but believe it or not I kind of feel the same way up to now. Well not as bad as Friday but I still don’t feel good about my "hanap-buhay" lately. There are just so many things to be done. I really don’t mind that... it’s the inconsistencies which make me very exhausted. I feel so much pressure that I always go home with a headache since Monday. What a _ _ _ _ life!

Anyway…

Pat – Thanks for the red rose. It definitely put a smile on my face.

Gracita – Thanks for the tips girl! Jeez those were exactly what I’ve been doing and I must admit that’s the problem with me… I tend to eat more when I’m stressed out. Yaiks!

Weng – Thanks for the message! Mwah! I feel a little better. *wink* *wink*

outburst!

This is not the 1st time I’m doing this kind of post but what the heck… this is how I am feeling at this very moment!

- woozy
- irritated
- fed up
- bored to death
- exhausted

it's bothering me...

I see nothing but about “recession” almost every time I go online. Take for instance this single mom who used to be earning $70k a year but now have to go to a food bank to feed her 2 kids. I’m sure it’s not only in the US that this is happening. Manang Glo told me last night that pork in the Philippines is now P175 per kilo. And I also read online that they are facing rice shortage. Filipinos depend so much on rice. In fact, we eat rice 3x a day. IFC doesn’t have a job yet and as to when he can have one, nobody knows. I don’t know but I think I’m getting paranoid of things that are not even affecting me. Well at least not yet. In reality, the company I work for is very stable. I would say it has the resources it needs. We even have 4 new hires in the last 2 weeks. But you just never know…

some people are just plain RUDE!

Why do people have to be really mean at times?! I am so upset right now and I can't really get over it that I couldn’t help not to let it out. It is a human nature to do # 2… something that you have no control of… even if you’re at work… or wherever you may be. I was exactly in that situation when 3 lady visitors came in the bathroom and one started saying… “OMG this is embarrassing! This is really embarrassing! I think I might stay outside! No! No I’m fine! I’ll stay outside!” And take note... with a whiny voice! How rude! I didn’t know what to do. I felt awkward. I felt angry. I felt ashamed. Grrr!!!

I'm BoReD tO dEaTh!!!

under recession?!

I wonder what’s happening to the economy right now. My sister Aou lost her job 2 weeks ago after the company was sold and the new owner decided to close the branch in the Philippines. It was only announced 5 days before they said they were closing. Worst is… their separation pay hasn’t been given up to now and the company is planning to file for bankruptcy. Aou was able to find another job in just a week but decided to quit after only 3 days. She said she applied for an administrative assistant position but when she actually reported for work, it seemed like she has more responsibilities than expected. It looked like she was also the customer service assistant, accounting assistant and receptionist… all at the same time. I hope she finds a good one soon.

IFC, on the other hand, still hasn’t found a job yet. He’s really bored now. I told him to set up a time table that in the event that he can’t find anything, say in 2 months, just enroll in a healthcare related course. He agreed though he doesn’t know yet which course to take. I think that’s really one issue when migrating abroad. You just can’t expect to stay in your field. Most of the time, you would have to consider shifting to another career just so you can move on.

airline experience!

I would like to share with you our airline experience/s but I’m going to make this some sort of a “blind item”…

Our tickets were purchased 8 months prior to the scheduled departure just so we could avail of the (I thought cheapER) price. This airline is cheaper by $360 per person compared to (my “fave”) Korean Airlines. We thought that this is kind of a significant amount to sacrifice. $360 x 2 for both me and IFC can just be added to our pocket money.

The question is “what kind of service did we really get?” Let me just enumerate some specific instances…

1. I-94 is usually surrendered whenever you leave the US. The attendant (upon check in) just said “Whatever you want! I’ll take it it’s up to you!” It’s not that I’m expecting everyone to know everything but I think in this case, he should not to mention that he also asked someone else. And guess what? We were questioned by the immigration officer at the port of entry why we still have it.
2. No english newspaper
3. The plane had an unpleasant smell.
4. No toothbrush and toothpaste in the lavatories
5. All flights that we took had some delays considering that the weather was in good condition.
6. IFC was coughing really bad during the flight back. I asked for a bottled water but the stewardess said they don’t have any. I told her “My husband is coughing… are you expecting us to keep asking you for a cup of water?” Her reply? “Next time you can just bring an empty bottle of water.” Great! How can they have no bottled water? They have 1st class passengers. I would have been pleased had she told me I’ll have to pay for it. Not only that! I saw her gave one to a Chinese in the same row we were seated.
7. They only offered water for all those times that they were not serving meals. I’ve been to other airlines which offered nuts or even bananas at those instances.
8. It was also the 1st time for me to have had something like this for breakfast on a flight. And since IFC was coughing, his throat was dry that he didn’t want to have that. I requested for noodles. That same stewardess in #6 said “they’re already given out”. 2things… 1) I saw her gave a cup to a Chinese seated behind the person I mentioned in #6; and 2) I saw one box under a seat near the lavatory with 1 cup still there. And these happened after I asked. What the hell! Argh!

Hmmm… what else? Well, these are all I could think of so far. Overall, I’ll give them a 2 out of 10 and that 2 points is only because they’re price was cheaper. Hmp!

Give me the enthusiasm to blog! Please!!! Please!!! Please!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

wishing for a "nicer" weather tomorrow!

We have a big storm coming around noon today. The forecast said it’s going to be a “wintry mix”… snow, sleet and rain. It has started actually. I can hear the sound of the sleets as they hit the window. I’ve been keeping track of tomorrow’s weather forecast. It’s supposed to be the only nice day of the week a few days ago but now seems like we’re also getting few snow showers tomorrow. I hope it doesn’t get worse than that. I don’t want to delay our trip to the Philippines. We’ve waited long enough for that!

childish?!

I threw a tantrum yesterday because I wanted to go see the tree at Rockefeller Center… only to find out that it won’t be ready till Thanksgiving Day. *Toink* I feel bad for IFC though. Hehehe.